Freight is where a well-planned order is most often delayed, and almost always for the same reason: the
lithium battery. A wheelchair packs like furniture and ships like a dangerous good, and the two need
different paperwork.
The battery decides the lane
Every model we ship uses UN 38.3 tested cells. Depending on how the pack is configured, the shipment is
declared as one of:
- UN 3171 — battery-powered vehicle, when the chair ships with the battery installed;
- UN 3481 — lithium ion batteries packed with equipment, when the pack is packed alongside
the chair.
Both are dangerous-goods bookings. They cannot go on a general cargo booking, and not every vessel or
airline accepts them. That single fact is what most often moves a sailing date: the goods are ready, but the
next compliant slot is two weeks later. Book the lane as soon as the production date is firm.
Sea or air
Sea freight is the default for volume; air freight is used for samples and urgent trial orders. Air adds
restrictions on state of charge and packing, which is why an airline-ready model is worth specifying up front
if you intend to sell into travel and mobility-rental channels. Shipping time is quoted separately for sea and
air to your destination — ask for it as a line item rather than assuming a transit time.
Production lead time
For regular orders of fewer than ten units we usually need around ten days. Larger orders run about 45 days
depending on the model and the quantity. That is production only; ocean transit and customs clearance sit on
top of it.
Inspection before the container is sealed
Pre-shipment inspection is part of our standard process rather than an optional extra, and you or your own
third-party inspector are welcome to check the goods in China before the container is sealed. Practically, it
means agreeing on a checklist before production starts — frame, welds, controller, battery pack, labelling,
packaging — so that a failure is found while the units are still on the factory floor.
Packing notes for mobility equipment
Wheelchairs are bulky and easy to damage at the controller and the footrests. Ask how the controller is
protected, whether the chair ships folded or assembled, and what the carton dimensions and weights are per
unit, because those numbers determine your container utilisation. If you are private-labelling, the carton
artwork has to be approved before packing starts, not during it.
Documents that travel with the goods
Expect the commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading or airway bill, and the UN 38.3 test summary
for the battery. Depending on the destination you will also need the technical file, test reports and
labelling described on the compliance page. Missing the battery test summary is the
most common cause of a shipment being held.
A realistic first-order timeline
- Configuration and sample confirmation.
- Production — around ten days for a small order, about 45 days for a large one.
- Pre-shipment inspection and carton approval.
- Dangerous-goods booking, then sea or air transit.
- Customs clearance and the market-access steps for your region.
Questions about quantities, samples or payment terms are answered on the FAQ page, and
the sourcing service page sets out who is responsible for each step.